Fishing, ca. 1932

Wilfrid de Glehn RA (1870 - 1951)

RA Collection: Art

De Glehn painted several paintings such as this, in which young ladies are depicted enjoying themselves in idyllic outdoor settings. Stylistically and thematically, this summery scene shows the artist's affinity with the work of the Impressionists as well as the later work of John Singer Sargent.

In 1890 De Glehn went to Paris where he studied at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts. He remained there for several years and, influenced by Impressionism, exhibited works at the Salon and the Galerie Durand-Ruel. He first came into contact with Sargent in the 1890s when he assisted him with his mural commission for Boston Public Library. The pair formed a lasting friendship and De Glehn and his wife frequently accompanied Sargent on sketching tours abroad.